ENVIRONMENT
Environmental Issues
Environment
This refers to our physical and social
surroundings.
Some of the physical surroundings include land,
climate, mountains, water bodies, vegetation
and some of the social surroundings include
man’s cultural, political and religious beliefs.
Environmental issues
This refers to the harmful effects that
human activities have on the environment.
Some of these include pollution,
deforestation and soil erosion.
Sanitation
It refers to the provision of facilities and
services for the safe disposal of human waste
such as toilets, latrines and sewage systems.
It is also includes the maintenance of
hygienic conditions through proper waste
management, cleaning and disinfection.
Types of Environment
Physical Environment
Social Environment
The Physical Environment
The physical environment refers to the
natural and built surroundings that affect
human behaviour and well-being.
Natural environment: land, water, air,
climate and natural resources.
Built environment: buildings, infrastructure
and transportations system.
The Social Environment
The social environment refers to the human
interactions, relationships and cultural influences
that shape individual and collective behaviour.
Family and community relationship
Social norms and values
Cultural practices and traditions
Economic and political systems
Environmental
Problems
Environmental problems refer to the harmful
impacts that human activities have on the
environment.
Environmental Problems/Challenges
Causes, Effects and Solutions
Poor Sanitation
Water Pollution
Air Pollution
Land
Pollution/Degradation
Poor Sanitation
Poor sanitation refers to the lack of access
to safe and hygienic sanitation facilities.
This leads to improper waste management
and have severe consequences for human
health, dignity and well-being.
Causes of Poor Sanitation
Inadequate funding
Inadequate infrastructure/facilities
Cultural and social factors
Indiscipline on the parts of residents
Inadequate education on sanitations
Inadequate maintenance and repair
Poor layout/settlement
Effects of Poor Sanitation
Bad impact on health: Disease outbreaks.
Flooding.
Low social and self-esteem or lack dignity.
Leads to Pollution.
High cost of waste management.
How to manage or solve sanitation problems
Public education.
Provision of sanitation in fractures or facilities.
Adequate funding
Enforcement of sanitation by laws: Local
Government Art (Act 462). Landlords should
provide toilets to tenants.
Recycling
Water Pollution
Water pollution refers to the contamination
of water bodies by human activities making
the water unsafe for human use and
damaging aquatic lives.
These water bodies include rivers, lakes,
lagoons, oceans.
Cause of Water Pollution
Illegal mining
Dumping of waste into water bodies
Defecating around water bodies
Bathing and washing in water bodies
Oil spillage
Improper fishing actives
Improper farming activities
Effects of Water Pollution
Water becomes impure.
Health problems
Destruction of aquatic lives
High cost of water treatment
Dead of water bodies
Controlling or Preventing Water Pollution
Public education and awareness.
Proper fishing and farming methods.
Proper waste management system.
Provision of sanitation infrastructure.
By-laws making and enforcement.
Air Pollution
Airpollution is the release of harmful and
poisonous gaseous substances into the
atmosphere.
This makes the air we breathe unsafe.
When air is polluted, the air surrounding
plants animals become dangerous to their
health.
Causes of Air Pollution
Emissions from vehicles.
Burning activities.
Harmful and toxic gases from factories.
Smoke from smokers.
Bad smell from animal waste.
Dust from construction and quarry sites.
Effects of Air Pollution
Health problems (lung cancer, tuberculosis).
Formation of acid rain.
Visibility Reduction.
Climate change: Releasing greenhouse
gases.
Controlling and Preventing Air Pollution
Public education and awareness.
Proper setting of factories.
Visibility Reduction.
Proper burning activities.
Enforcing environmental laws.
Land Pollution/Degradation
Land pollution is the gradual destruction in
the quality of the land by human activities.
This leads to lost of the fertility of the land.
Causes of Land Pollution
Illegal
mining activities
Sand winning
Bush burning
Overgrazing
Deforestation
Improper waste management
Improper farming activities
Effects of Land Pollution
Loss of soil fertility
Erosion
Desertification
Destruction of water bodies: rivers, lakes.
Destruction of living organisms in the soil.
Famine
Controlling and Preventing Land Pollution
Publiceducation and awareness.
Appropriate farming activities.
Law enforcement.
Proper waste disposal.
These processes are all important
aspect of water cycle and other natural
phenomena.
